Karnataka to go after 'big encroachers' of land

Bengaluru: In the wake of the Karnataka High Court’s direction to the state government to act against big encroachers of government land and to clear encroachments of over five acres, Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad today said that the state government will take action on it on a war-footing.

“The division bench has spoken in terms -- that the work being done by government on the encroachment issue is not enough. They have asked us to clear encroachments of over five acres instead of acting only on small encroachers. We will strictly follow it. I’m convening a meeting with officials in this regard,” Prasad told reporters here.

He said, there was public pressure also on this issue and protests were happening at various places by prominent civil society activists. The High Court has also issued strict directions on this issue. “This is an important issue where work has to happen.”

“We will be discussing it. At any cost, we have to clear these encroachments. We will take up this work on a war footing. We will not hesitate in taking action,” he added. A High Court division bench headed by Chief Justice D H Waghela had yesterday, while hearing a PIL filed by Namma Bengaluru Foundation and Samaj Paribarthan Samuday, had asked government to initiate action against big encroachers who have grabbed three to five acres of land, when petitioners alleged that government was only acting on small encroachers.

Speaking on the drought relief, Prasad said, “(In 35 taluks) our estimated loss is Rs 3,589 crore and 700,000, we have mentioned this in a memorandum submitted to the Government of India seeking central assistance for drought mitigation in Karnataka during Kharif.” “Our estimated loss is Rs 3,589 crore and 700,000 according to SDRF norms we have asked them (central government) for Rs 779.20 crore reliefs,” he added.

Listing out work done in the revenue department after Congress government taking over, Prasad said, “I’m planning to bring out a first of its kind white paper giving details about what all work has happened in the department.” “It will have complete details about work done by the department in comparison to what has happened in last five years and what we have done in the one-and-a-half-year term of our government,” he added.